Pakistani music in 2022: How newbie artists proved they're here to stay

“I heard there was a secret chord / That David played and it pleased the Lord / But you don't really care for music, do you?” – Leonard Cohen

Between those who make it and those who make it in, are those who are constantly rising to the occasion. This year, belonged to the latter. As we snuggle in our cozy blankets and think about what is and what was, we actualise how far the Pakistani music scene has come. What used to be a restrictive club 20 years ago, has suddenly opened up to an array of performers and music. While Spotify statistics are still not the most accurate barometer for gauging an artist’s success or fame in Pakistan, the app’s merger with existing platforms and artists in the country has opened doors for new possibilities. In 2022, local artists transcended borders without having to live up to the expectations of a certain 90s pop band. Their formula? Constantly putting themselves out there.

So, while we crown those who reigned supreme, such as Arooj Aftab, without whom Pakistan would not have won its first Grammy, and Ali Sethi, without whom Pakistani pop music would not have found the massive global audience it did this year, we look back at the underdogs of the realm, who have carved their own path in 2022 and made Pakistani pop culture, even richer. As tastes evolve, these artists have adopted a modern approach to sound that is both culturally rooted and simpler to produce, making what they do more viable and avant-garde.

Shae Gill

Until last year, Shae Gill was just a cover artist gaining slow but steady fame on Instagram. In December ‘21, she shared her rendition of Khabar-e-Tahayyur by Sethi with an apology. “Forgive me if I butchered the song, I will be taking classical music lessons very soon!” Much to everyone’s surprise, Sethi commented under her post, writing, “Umm, can we collaborate soon please?” Pretty sure their Coke Studio collaboration was already underway because roughly two months later, Pasoori came out.

Not even in her wildest dreams would Gill have imagined her mainstream debut would break the records it did. It topped the list of the most hummed-to-search songs on Google and racked up over 470 million views on YouTube. It has become the most-watched Coke Studio music video ever and also the most-streamed Pakistani song this year.

But Gill has much more to offer and she is slowly beginning to prove that. Since Pasoori, Gill has managed to put out another track in collaboration with Hassan & Roshaan titled Sukoon, which is finding listeners across South Asia. On Tuesday, Bollywood’s Ayushman Khurrana featured the song in a photo he shared on Instagram. Gill is also Spotify’s EQUAL ambassador for the month of December and is currently lighting up New York Times Square.

Hassan & Roshaan

In a recent interview for The Guardian, Natasha Noorani told Fatima Bhutto that Pakistani artists are finally “exploring their identities in a way that isn’t whitewashed or pandering to some kind of global reach.” She also rightly pointed out that before anything goes big, it has to go home.

Hassan & Roshaan are one such example. The singing duo that dropped its 18-track debut album merely two years ago, made its way to the Marvel Cinematic Universe this year with one of their songs, Doobne De (Reprise), being featured in an episode of Ms. Marvel.

Their latest, Sukoon, alongside Gill, is a cherry on top for the techno-pop Lahore-based duo that is on the rise. Take it or leave it, Hassan Sheikh and Roshaan Sherwani are here to stay, and their growing listeners are a testament to the same.

Kaifi Khali

Kaifi Khalil is coming out to be the star of the underdogs, as his track Kahani Suno 2.0 closes 2022 on an emotional note. Its chord arrangement is nothing out of the ordinary, and the song’s lyrics aren’t any special either. But the track has struck a chord with 10,087,124 listeners on the music streaming app, simply because of the feelings it evokes.

While all artists understand their art is an expression of the self, few benefit from the fact that that expression also carries an emotion which is transposed. Khalil appears to have mastered the art of expressing his emotions in a manner that is gripping and hard-hitting. While the singer also went big with his Coke Studio debut Kana Yaari, Kahani Suno 2.0 is taking the cake for being Khalil’s best work yet. And some of the best work I’ve heard this year.

Rovalio and Abdul Hannan

Ah! The golden boys of 2022, who dare I say, almost gave Hassan Raheem a run for his money. In the era of Peechay Hutt, Rovalio and Hannan came out with Bikhra and Iraaday. Both songs toppled listening charts with the prior even dethroning Pasoori in May. Bikhra has racked up over 14 million streams in eight months while Iraaday garnered 13 million streams. The songs led to an upsurge in listenership for Hannan’s earlier tracks, including Haaray.

While Rommel Yazdan alias Rovalio continues his reign as an Islamabad-based prodigy, who’s been ruling the electro-pop scene since 2018, Hannan is relatively new to the music market, having made his debut in 2020 with Faaslay. Safe to say, both have come a long way since, and the stars certainly aligned for them this year. While both Bikhra and Iraaday failed to put the spotlight on Hannan’s vocal potential, his cheesy song writing and voice has stolen hearts.

Taha G

Taha G, short for Taha Gurwara, has proven time and again to be the eternal love boy of the Pakistani music scene. The singer, who’s been constantly putting out music since 2018, gained mass popularity with his songs Dou Pal and Mann Mein Tu in 2020. He carried forward in the same vein in 2021 with Dil Kay Isharay. And this year, his streams have doubled after the release of Pyaar Bhi Kya Nasha Hai, his album, which features Rent Free, a song opposite Aima Baig.

Taha G tracks stand out for their production value and of course, their witty and slick lyrics. On one end, Taha acknowledges, “Hua ilhaam / Dil par lagaam nahi rakh sakta hun mein,” and on the other, he blames it on the alcohol, “Be emaan / Khud se hua, phisalta rehta mein /Yeh pyaar, jese sharaab ka chaska lagta hai.” There is no comparing when it comes to Taha’s love ditties and his songs are hard not to sing along to.

Annural Khalid

Annural Khalid may not exactly have gone big this year but she did make herself known with songs like Say My Name and my personal favourite, Sohneya Ve, which is also co-written and co-performed by Rovalio. Khalid’s voice is difficult to miss – it’s unique, soft and quite relaxing. But her control over her vocals is what makes her singing stand out.

Back in March, on the occasion of Spotify’s one-year anniversary in Pakistan, its managing directors had told The Express Tribune, “Since Spotify's entry into Pakistan, we have seen more women creators experimenting with their sound and finding fans globally. For instance, Hareem Rashid, Nirmal Roy, Annural Khalid and Yashal Shahid are amongst the top breakout women artists this year, and we should pay very close attention to them.”

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